1 of 2 | Israelis take part in a protest calling for the immediate release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, next to the Kirya in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday night. Photo by Atef Safadfi/EPA-EFE/
Aug. 31 (UPI) — After Israel Defense Forces reported finding “a number of bodies” in the Gaza Strip, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum rallied, demanding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sign a hostage deal.
The IDF has not confirmed if the bodies are those of hostages. IDF said it will not be able to confirm any specifics until the bodies have been returned to Israel and checked, likely Sunday.
“At this stage, the forces are still operating in the area and carrying out a process to extract and identify the bodies, which will last several hours,” the military said in statement.
IDF sources told the Jerusalem Post if the bodies are hostages, that they were not killed by any recent fight with Hamas in the area because the military did not use force nearby.
“Netanyahu abandoned the hostages! This is now a fact,” a statement issued by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum read.
Thousands already rallied at Hostage Square in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and in front of Netanyahu’s residence on Saturday night and plans are for more protests Sunday.
“Starting tomorrow the country will tremble. We call on the public to prepare. We will stop the country,” the statement continued.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said: “While our sons and daughters are abandoned and die in captivity, Netanyahu is busy spinning the narrative.”
“We will continue to stand by the families and hug and protect them in difficult times,” he added.
There are 107 total hostages, living and dead, being held in Gaza according, to Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Of those, 103 hostages are from the Oct.7 Hamas attack on Israel.